Step 6: Washer Fluid Line (Ice Prevention)

Step 7: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts

I was thrilled that I found these recipes. These solutions work by deicing. All chemicals have a “eutectic” point — the lowest temperature at which th...

I have been making all of my own cleaning supplies. I needed a windshield de-icer and found these recipes. Making your own is much more economical and it will ease the task of removing ice from the windshield. Recipes include: a de-icer, ice and frost preventive spray, and a recipe to keep the lines free from ice. The bottles are simulated to show pictures of the different products. I am not an expert, doctor, chemist, or a professional in any occupation. I share here how I interpret it to the best of my knowledge. Use these applications at your own risk and own choice. Keep all products out of the reach of anyone or anything that could be at risk of injury.

Step 2: Utensils For Ice And Frost Prevention

Step 3: Measure

Measure ingredients for ice and frost prevention:

3 Parts vinegar

1 Part water

Step 4: Mix And Label

Method:

Mix all ingredients

Label

Please note:The Ice and frost prevention is sprayed on the windows the night before to help prevent the ice from sticking. The wipers are supposed to easily remove the snow and ice so you don't have to.

Step 5: De-Icer Ingredients And Utensils

This is what you need:

1 part water

2 parts 70% Isopropyl Alcohol

Same utensils as before

Measure Alcohol and water

Pour into spray bottle

Label

Please notice the directions call for 70% Isopropyl alcohol. I used colored water in the bottles for picture purposes only.The de-icer is used to spray on the ice to allow for easy scraping.

yes!!! used to do this all the time! would put a flattened cardboard box inside the plastic cuz ice n snow tend to get heavy...put it under ur wipers...ta da! they're not stuck...and lastly the plastic goes in the DOOR while its open...shut it to hold the plastic while preventing the door from freezing n sticking!!!!! GENIUS!!!!! worked every time...also pouring any carbonated beverage (room temp is what i did) makes ice in a glass pop and break, so I will give you one guess what it does around your car door and on the windshield!!!!

How will isopropyl alcohol damage your car? It evaporates, and besides good old H20, it's the main ingredient in most de-icers, fuel line additives anyway. I'll take that over ethanol (neurotoxin, anyone?) any day.

Be aware that these solutions are intended to be sprayed on using a spray bottle under specific conditions, not put into the washer fluid retainer in the car. If you put the vinegar solution into the retainer in the car then you might corrode metal parts in the system. It seems as if a few responders were assuming that the solutions were intended to replace windshield washer solutions. I live in the frozen north and will try the de-icer the next time ice is predicted. It is tough to scrape.

Vinegar doesn't corrode or they wouldn't recommend it for cleaning coffee pots like the Kuerig. I think alcohol is in cold weather windsheild washer fluid. These are perfectly good recipes for this application!

it will certainly corrode all the unpainted metal and electrical inside the door and even worse the unprotected aluminum a/c evaporator when it sucks it threw the fresh air inlet in frount of the windshield.

To all who suggest pouring warm or hot water on a windshield to clear the frost/ice I must warn you that you are flirting with damaging the glass. If there is even a tiny chip in the glass, the temperature difference could be enough to cause the glass to crack, especially at the colder temperatures.

To those concerned with using alcohol near the engine, all winter formulations of wiper fluid contain some form of alcohol to lower the temperature at which water freezes. When mixed with water common alcohol doesn't ignite very well.

To those that don't consider vinegar corrosive, may I remind you that table vinegar is acetic acid 5% by volume and all acids are corrosive in some manner. The difference between a coffee maker and the windshield wiper pump is that the vinegar solution will remain in contact with the windshield pump parts for extended periods of time whereas the coffee maker is rinsed after descaling; It is a matter of acidic concentration and exposure time.

Windshield De-Icer/ And Ice Prevention Spray--This worked just Great this morning-Amazed my new teen drivers. But I did get one large complant in useing this. The after odor from the Vinegar of which I agreed with them. Now I did not use a spray bottle. Instead I use a large dish washing detergent empty bottle for this mixture. works just great and nothing to clog with ice. Now my question for someone to answer is---How to reduce the Vinegar odor that lingers all Day? Stay Warm! F350red

Before the invention of propylene glycol for use as coolant/anti-freeze, alcohol was the norm in engine cooling systems. Its major flaw was that it evaporated and left the system as a vapor requiring constant replenishing. 70% isopropyl alcohol blended 50/50 with other diluting ingredients makes it 35% by volume, which will not ignite very easily and is non combustible. Using the above mentioned mixture should prove perfectly safe under normal operating conditions. If the gasoline (petrol) isn't spontaneously igniting within its sealed system, neither will blended/diluted isopropyl alcohol. If it were by chance to leak, the alcohol evaporates rapidly, rendering the dilute non-flammable. Common off hte shelf de-icing products marketed for use in automotive applications contain various amounts of alcohol, including but not limited to fuel line anti-freeze.

I wondered about that myself but I have seen several recipes calling for this so maybe someone who has knowledge about this can address this. I will make a note about this somewhere. Thanks so much for commenting. Sunshiine

About This Instructable

Bio:I am married with two children. Spring, summer, and fall are my very favorite times of the year. I love the sunshine thus the reason for my name. The 2 I's are because sunshine was already taken. I e...read more »